As the time drew near for the Son of God to make his first advent, Satan became more vigilant in preparing the hearts of the Jewish people to be steeled against the evidences he should bring of his Messiahship. The Jews had become proud and boastful. The purity of the priesthood had not been preserved, but was fearfully corrupted. They retained the forms and ceremonies of their system of worship, while their hearts were not in the work. They did not sustain personal piety and virtuous characters. And the more they were wanting in the qualifications necessary to the sacred work, as priests of the most high God, the more tenacious were they of outward show of piety, zeal, and devotion.

Idet tiden drog nærmere for Guds Søn at gøre sin første ankomst, blev Satan mere vagtsom for at berede det jødiske folks hjerter, og være stålsat imod de beviser han skulle bringe som Messias. Jøderne var blevet stolte og pralagtige. Præsteskabets renhed var ikke blevet bevaret, men forfærdeligt fordærvet. De beholdte formerne og ceremonierne i deres tilbedelsessystem, medens deres hjerter ikke var med i arbejdet. De nærede ikke personlig fromhed og dydig karakter. Og jo større mangel de havde på de fornødne egenskaber i det hellige arbejde, som den allerhøjestes Guds præster, des mere hårdnakkede var de for at vise ydre medynk, iver og helligelse.